High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 729: Chapter 77 Hesitation_1

Outside the main campus of the First University, there are many small and relatively secluded educational areas. These areas, while under the administration of the First University, have semi-independent territories and are not located within Jiuyou Academy or Alpha Castle, but like the research institutes in the research institute, lurk in a corner of the Silent Forest.

Of course, these territories are also covered by the University’s Protection Array.

And the bridge connecting these territories to the academy, at Jiuyou Academy, is the deep corridor that goes around the academy.

This corridor has its main structure built from obsidian, there are many beautifully decorated sculptures on the ceiling. In summer, it is covered by thick and dense vines, making it quiet; and in winter, when the vines wither, the main body of the corridor is exposed to the cold wind, making it much brighter but also colder.

There are many ’nodes’ in the Ring Mansion corridor, constructed of pavilions. These nodes are gateways to those semi-independent territories. For example, Pavilion Number Three leads to the ’Flying Garden’ territory where people like Zheng Qing have their morning lessons; Number Seven Gazebo leads to the office building of the school’s worker committee; and recently, the bustling Number Four Gazebo, leading to the First University’s No.1 Hunting Ground, and so on.

A few minutes ago, the Forest Cat leading the way also led the black cat past a gazebo.

However, at the time, the black cat was just focused on listening to others and thinking wildly, so he forgot to pay attention to which gazebo they turned to - likewise, the other people, including the fat boy, also overlooked this issue.

”No worries, we’re on campus grounds. I have so many cats under my command, I won’t lose any of you!” the black cat immediately reassured them casually when he heard Lin Guo’s anxious voice: ”I won’t lose you!”

Having said this, he lifted up little White’s paw, and waved it back - all the cats behind him meowed in cooperation, making him look like a majestic and important cat leader.

”How does you having cats under your command relate to us being lost?” the fat boy asked in confusion. He was not scared of getting lost and was leisurely taking out a bag of potato chips, treating this journey like a picnic.

As he asked that question, he was merely acting out of habit as a ’professional journalist’, always liking to stir things up.

”Ever heard of ’An old horse knows the way home?’” The black cat tugged at his ear, glanced sideways at the fat boy, and scoffed: ”If the old horse can find its way, kittens obviously can too... just follow the cats later; they’ll take you back the way you came.”

These are not groundless, wishful words.

Many small animals, including cats and dogs, have a time-honored custom of rubbing their scent everywhere, peeing to mark their territory, and burying their prey. On one hand, this habit marks their territory and warns other animals not to invade at will; on the other hand, it serves as a reminder to themselves so they don’t get lost. From some perspective, this natural method is more effective than the brains of most wizards.

Along the way, although Zheng Qing did not notice which gazebo they had turned into, he clearly sensed that more than one cat had left a ’mark’ by the side of the road. Simply by this strong scent mark, he could be assured that he wouldn’t get lost.

”Alright, you’re the cat, you have the final say.” The fat boy mumbled and stuffed another handful of potato chips into his mouth.

The little Ragdoll cat that was originally running outside the crowd smelled the scent of oil and silently slipped back, got close to the fat boy’s feet, meowed, and stared at the food in his hand with pitiful big eyes.

”Tsk, I can’t resist your little eyes...” The fat boy looked down and instantly forgot about the conversation with the black cat, happily took out a piece of potato chip and handed it over.

The ragdoll cat carefully sniffed it, took a small bite, immediately spat it out, and turned around, without looking back into the group of cats. The fat boy was left dumbfounded.

Unlike the chubby boy who was carefree and had a fondness for playing with cats, the little male wizard riding on the back of the Black Mountain Goat was much more nervous.

”Why do I feel like I’ve never been to this territory before?”

”Has anyone been here? Who knows which gazebo’s territory this is? Which department manages it?”

”Why haven’t we seen anyone after walking for so long? Even at the Flying Garden, there would usually be pets from the Pet Garden having fun there... Don’t you all think this territory is too quiet?”

Lin Guo didn’t say it, and Zheng Qing hadn’t felt it. But with the little wizard’s chatter, even the black cat couldn’t help but feel a chill running up his spine, as hairs on his back stood up.

After some hesitation, he recited the ”Big and Small Spell” in his mind a few more times, making himself taller again - to be precise, his shoulders were now over five feet tall. When standing on his hind legs, he was even taller than the few crooked willows next to them.

”Ahem!” The black cat gave a heavy cough, attracting everyone’s attention, lifted his paw to signal everyone to stop.

Then he propped up his tail, leaned against the tree, stood up on both hind legs, and discreetly surveyed the area. Seeing their leader standing tall, the group of cats was exhilarated, and their meows formed a chorus.

Unlike the excited cat group, the black cat whose heart sank as he surveyed the area.

His forepaw held onto the tree trunk, his eyes just cleared the top layer of the trees, looking around, all he saw was gray. If it were summer, his sight would surely be filled with lush greenery. However, it’s winter now, and apart from a few evergreen trees, most trees have shed their leaves.

What the black cat could see was only the bare branches of the trees, shivering in the cold wind. In the distance, he could vaguely see the wreckage of collapsed buildings, obscured by the faint blue mist.

The mist was slowly rolling as if it’s alive, almost seemingly expanding outwards.

Where does mist come from in broad daylight!

The black cat fell back to the ground with a start, and his body shrunk rapidly, diminishing from two meters to half a meter within a blink.

”This territory seems a bit strange.” Zheng Qing hesitated, then started describing to the others what he saw and expressed his guess: ”I’ve heard that there is a graveyard within a territory on campus... Could this be the place?”

”The rumored graveyard? That rumored place where they keep a few thousand-year-old corpses?” Lin Guo shrieked, then his eyes gleamed, looking eager to rush into the depths of the territory.

In contrast to his reaction, Blue Bird, who was always fearless and expressionless, frowned deeply at Zheng Qing’s guess, and held down the young wizard, thwarting his impulsive plan.